Method for managing calls in a communication network

Abstract

A method for managing calls of at least one communication device in a communication network ( 100 ) is described. The method includes detecting ( 304 ) a condition in the communication network ( 100 ). The method further includes altering ( 306 ) one or more control parameters for existing calls of the at least one communication device. These call control parameters are altered to modify mobility of communication devices in the existing calls within the communication network ( 100 ). The method also includes setting up new calls for at least a first class of communication devices by using the altered call control parameters.

1 . A method for managing calls of at least one communication device in a communication network, the method comprising:
 detecting a condition within the communication network;   altering one or more call control parameters for existing calls of the at least one communication device, wherein the one or more call control parameters are altered to modify mobility of the at least one communication device in the existing calls within the communication network; and   setting up new calls for a first class of communication devices using the one or more altered call control parameters.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising setting up a first set of new calls for a second class of communication devices using unaltered call control parameters. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising setting up a second first set of new calls for a second class of communication devices using new set of call control parameters when number of calls from the second class of calls exceeds a threshold. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the new set of call control parameters is different from the unaltered call control parameters and the at least one altered call control parameters. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the second class of call is an emergency call. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the condition comprises at least one of an overload condition and an expected overload condition in the communication network. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising notifying the at least one communication device of the condition and any change in the condition thereof in the communication network. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising using unaltered call control parameters for the existing calls and the new calls when the condition cease to exist. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one call control parameter is selected from a group comprising a number of traffic channels assigned during call set up, a traffic channel add threshold, a traffic channel drop threshold, an allowed number of traffic channels per call, a predefined Frame Error Rate (FER), a power link mode, and a number of handoff candidates. 
     
     
         10 . A method for handling an overload condition in a communication network, the communication network comprising one or more communication devices, the method comprising:
 detecting a condition within the communication network;   altering one or more control parameters for existing calls and new calls in the communication network, wherein the one or more call control parameters are altered to modify mobility of the one or more communication devices in the existing calls and the new calls within the communication network; and   setting up a first set of new calls in the communication network using unaltered call control parameters.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the modified mobility reduces quality of mobility of the one or more communication devices within the communication network. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein altering the one or more control parameters for the existing calls and the new calls in the communication network is done by a processor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising notifying the one or more communication devices about the modified mobility 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising periodically checking the condition and any change in the condition thereof in the communication network. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising using unaltered call control parameters for the existing calls and the new calls when the overload condition ceases to exist. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising using a new set of call control parameters for a second set of new calls when number of calls of the first set of new calls exceeds a threshold. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the call control parameters are selected from a group comprising a number of traffic channels assigned during call set up, a traffic channel add threshold, a traffic channel drop threshold, an allowed number of traffic channels per call, a predefined Frame Error Rate (FER), a power link mode, and a number of handoff candidates. 
     
     
         18 . A base station for managing calls in a communication network, the base station comprising:
 a transceiver configured to receive information about a condition within the communication network, and to detect one of an overload condition and an expected overload condition based on a state of the communication network; and   a processor capable of altering one or more call control parameters for at least one call in the communication network, wherein the one or more control parameters are altered to modify mobility of communication devices in the communication network.   
     
     
         19 . The base station of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is further capable of distinguishing between a first class of calls and a second class of calls. 
     
     
         20 . The base station of  claim 18 , wherein the transceiver is further capable of notifying the communication devices about at least one of the overload condition and the expected overload condition in the communication network.